Chapter Five: The Recluse and His Sword Manual
Because tomorrow happened to be the weekend, Wen Liang told He Tianran to go home and seriously consider his proposal for self-improvement, and they would talk again when they met tomorrow.
After finishing their noodles, the two exchanged contact information and went home separately.
“What’s this, dragging me out just to eat a bowl of noodles, and then nothing more… Ah, no, I shouldn’t expect any follow-up anyway,” He Tianran muttered to himself as he returned to his apartment. Using his fingerprint, he unlocked the door with a soft click.
It was a rather lonely, single-person apartment.
Typically, a place like this was meant for high-level professionals living away from home. The kitchen appliances and furniture were all expensive, and the monthly rent hovered around six thousand yuan.
For a high school student to live in such a place was clearly extravagant, but He Tianran was truly poor.
His father paid the rent annually, and the money never passed through He Tianran’s hands directly. Each month, only a thousand yuan was deposited into his card as living expenses.
Some might say that one thousand yuan was quite a lot for a high school student, especially since he didn’t have to pay rent. However, after deducting the cost of three meals a day, he was left with just four or five hundred yuan.
Besides, he loved playing games, and a single AAA title on console could easily cost three to four hundred yuan. With the high prices in Port City, he often found himself tight on money by the end of each month.
Why didn’t he live with his parents?
Because his parents were divorced. His mother had moved abroad, and his father had remarried, but it seemed there was no intention to have him live with the new family. So, he was made to move out in the name of learning to live independently.
Entering his bedroom, He Tianran switched on his computer. The RGB glow from the case instantly filled the entire room with colorful light.
Recalling the scenes from today, He Tianran still found it hard to believe—did such a thing as “rebirth” really exist in this world? Though he had his moments of teenage angst, he wasn’t foolish!
He opened a well-known Q&A website and tried searching for the possibility of “rebirth.” But as he searched, the question he typed gradually shifted.
“What does it mean when a girl takes the initiative to hold my hand?”
—At a bathhouse, just got out of a Cadillac, and holding hands? So what? Holding hands is nothing special; it doesn’t excite me anymore.
—Two possibilities: she either sees you as a close female friend or as a gay man. Don’t overthink it. Just get some sleep.
“What does it mean when a girl actively offers me her leftover food?”
—Have the ‘simp’ dogs evolved to this degree now? Eating leftovers? You’ve really become a dog!
—Have you eaten? Is it good? I want some too...
—Hmm, it seems this girl is quite skilled. The questioner should describe more. Boys need to be careful these days; remember not to fall for manipulative tactics.
He Tianran thought the third reply made some sense. Tapping on the keyboard, he asked a new question.
“How can I quickly improve my ‘love rank’ so I won’t be passive in relationships with girls?”
Most of the answers required practical actions—chatting, taking initiative, and so on. But for He Tianran, that was far too difficult. Finally, one answer shook him awake. It read:
“Are you sure she likes you? Or are you just wanting to flirt ambiguously? If it’s the former, and you like her too, mutual pursuit is actually the best outcome in love—just accept it calmly. If it’s the latter, I won’t give you any advice.”
“Yeah, what am I thinking?! He Tianran, wake up! With your sleazy look, who would ever like you!” He slapped his cheeks with both hands, then hurriedly pulled a diary titled *The Art of the Sword* from his drawer and recited aloud:
“A true man born between heaven and earth should not be depressed, nor dwell long beneath others! Without a woman in my heart, the sword naturally becomes divine. It is said—
Page one of the sword manual: forget your beloved;
Page two: sever the soul of infatuation;
Page three: strike down the god of love with every sword stroke;
Page four: raise your hand to extinguish worldly desires!
...
Page ten: reclaim my freedom!”
“I didn’t expect Wen Liang’s impact to be so strong. With my defense maxed out, I almost broke through. So this is what girls are like? I’m scared—definitely need the comfort of games now!”
He Tianran walked to the living room, turned on his PS5 and the TV, and during the startup, he loudly spoke to the nearby Apple HomePod:
“Hey Siri, turn on the living room mood lights.”
In an instant, a strip of soft yellow lights lit up the dark living room, bringing a little warmth to the otherwise cold space.
“Play my favorite playlist.”
Immediately, a rock song filled the room, heavy drums pounding with passionate melodies, transforming the solitary space into a vibrant one.
“Good morning, Night City!”
The voiceover from *Cyberpunk 2077*’s opening scene came from the TV, prompting He Tianran to shout along:
“Good morning, Night City!!”
His eyes changed—filled with fervor and boldness. It seemed that only in moments like this, within this small world, could the timid, weak He Tianran known to others truly be reborn.
“This enchanting ritual... yes, games are enough. I wonder what excuse I’ll find tomorrow to reject Wen Liang’s proposal to change myself. Things are fine as they are now!”
He Tianran began talking to himself. Whether being bullied or a school beauty’s time-traveling rebirth, even if the world ended tomorrow and zombies overran the city, as long as he had internet and food, he could just stay home and keep playing!
Many people don’t understand why someone would stay cooped up at home for a month without stepping outside. Isn’t that lonely?
No, no. Going out only makes them feel anxious. Making friends and dating is really troublesome—you have to share values, find topics to talk about, consider others’ feelings while chatting, and if you mess up, you’re labeled emotionally unintelligent.
But being a shut-in means pleasing only yourself!
It may seem lonely, but it’s actually quite joyful!
He Tianran secretly admired Cao Aiqing; after all, every young man has a crush at some point. But unlike the so-called “popular” kids, he had no desire to confess—not even a single thought of it!
This was not humility, but self-awareness.
“What you can’t have is always the best—just like games, the most fun parts only exist in the trailers!”